Host assembly for an integrated computer module

ABSTRACT

A host assembly having a docking bay for receiving an integrated computer module is disclosed. The docking bay includes a cavity for receiving and grossly aligning the module, a host connector located at a back end of the cavity at a position where it is aligned with the module connector when the module is received in the cavity, and a projecting member located at an XY location at the back end of the cavity for helping to align the module connector with the host connector. The projecting member may also provide a locking function and may be located at an asymmetric XY location for ensuring that the cavity only receives an un-keyed module that is in the correct orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to integrated computer modules and, morespecifically, to the construction of a host assembly and a docking bayin a host assembly for receiving and retaining an integrated computermodule.

2. Description of the Related Art

Today's personal computers (PC's) are usually sold in a desktopconfiguration or a notebook configuration. Desktop PC's are generallyhoused in a relatively large chassis containing a main printed circuitboard or “motherboard” and other components that are incorporated intoor connected to the motherboard. The components may be located inside oroutside of the chassis. Typical internal components include a powersupply, a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), amass storage device such as a magnetic disk drive, expansion cardsconnected to a bus on the motherboard, and various peripherals mountedon “rails” in “bays” within the chassis and electrically connected tothe motherboard or an associated expansion card by a ribbon cable or thelike. Typical expansion cards are a SCSI adapter, a sound adapter, and anetwork adapter. Typical bay-mounted peripherals are a magnetic diskdrive, a floppy drive, a tape drive or a CD-ROM drive. Typical external“peripherals” include user input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, amicrophone, a joystick, a graphics tablet or a scanner) and user outputdevices such as speakers a printer, and a video display device (e.g. aCRT display or an LCD display). The video adapter that drives thedisplay, as with other adapters, may be integrated into the motherboardor provided on a separate expansion card.

The users of desktop PC's may be divided into two divergent groups: (1)experienced users who understand the individual components and tend tofrequently upgrade their PC's by replacing such components, and (2) newusers who do not understand or even want to understand the individualcomponents. The latter group may prefer to replace the entire PC, ifthey upgrade at all. With respect to both groups, however, it has beenobserved that the need or desire to upgrade occurs far sooner withrespect to some components than with respect to other components. Inparticular, users more frequently upgrade the CPU, the RAM, the magneticdisk drive, and the video adapter. These upgrades tend to provide morecapacity and more speed because of rapid technological advancements onthe part of manufacturers in response to ever-increasing demands fromever more complicated and more graphics intensive software applicationsand an associated increase in file sizes. Both user-types lessfrequently need or desire to upgrade the monitor, the speakers, thekeyboard or the power supply, however, because these latter componentshave withstood the test of time and employ technologies that are lessprone to obsolescence.

These inventors expect that the computer paradigm will move from a largechassis full of individual components of different manufacture toward areadily upgraded system consisting of two primary components: (1) anintegrated computer module that compactly houses the frequently upgradedcomponents (e.g. the CPU, the memory, the disk drive, and the videoadapter) and provides a module connector for interfacing the module'selectronics with peripherals, and (2) a “host assembly” with a dockingbay that receives the module and provides a host connector that mateswith the module connector. The host assembly can comprise any “shell”that includes the bay that receives the integrated computer module. Thedocking bay may be in a host assembly that doubles as a peripheral or inan intermediate assembly that is connected to conventional peripherals.The host assembly, for example, may function and appear generally like aconventional CRT display, save for the addition of the docking bay. ACRT-like host assembly of this nature would also provide a firstconnector for receiving input from a keyboard and, in all likelihood, asecond connector for receiving input from a mouse. As another example,the host assembly may appear like a conventional tower chassis thatcontains a docking bay for receiving the module, and suitableelectronics (e.g. a PCB, cables, and so on) to interface the integratedcomputer module to conventional expansion cards via an expansion bus,and to conventional peripherals like a display, a keyboard, and a mouse,via connector ports built-in to the host assembly or carried by anexpansion card.

Computer modules and associated bays have already been proposed. Forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,742 that issued to Kobayashi in 1995,assigned to Hitachi, the inventor discloses a “personal processormodule” (PPM) that fits within a notebook type docking station or adesktop type docking station, or simply attaches to a docking housing 6that is cabled to a keyboard and a monitor. (See FIG. 1). In FIG. 18,the '742 Patent shows a docking station containing a rectangular bay(not numbered) that receives the PPM 130. The '742 patent, however, doesnot further align the module after it enters the docking bay and beforethe module connector engages the host connector. Moreover, it disclosesa complex mechanism for retaining the module in the docking bay. Inparticular, FIGS. 19-22 of the '742 Patent reveal arms 134, 136 thatgrab the sides of the PPM and pull it into the docking stations untilthe PPM connector 22 mates with the internal connector 24.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,710 that issued in 1996 to Rahamim et al., alsoassigned to Hitachi, the inventors disclose a particular coolingstructure for a PPM, but teach very little about the docking bay thatreceives the PPM.

There remains a need, therefore, for a host assembly having a dockingbay with a simple, rugged mechanism for receiving and retaining themodule in the docking bay while maintaining electrical integrity andcontinuity required to meet standards for emissions and electrostaticdischarge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention may be regarded as a host assembly forfully receiving an integrated computer module that is in a correctorientation and for only partially receiving a module that is in anincorrect orientation, the module having a front wall and back wallopposite the front wall, having a substantially rectangular module endperiphery defined by a floor wall, a ceiling wall opposite the floorwall, a first side wall, and a second side wall opposite the first sidewall, and having a module connector located at an XY connector locationon the back wall when the module is in a correct orientation, the modulecontaining a head disk assembly, random access memory, and a printedcircuit board assembly (PCBA) carrying a plurality of integratedcircuits that constitute substantially all of the integrated circuitsneeded to define a microprocessor-based computing subsystem, the dockingbay comprising: a chassis including a power supply, at least one inputconnector port for attachment to an input device, and at least oneoutput connector for attachment to an output device; a cavity located inthe chassis and adapted for receiving and grossly aligning the module,the caving defined by a front opening, a back end opposite the frontopening, and a substantially rectangular cavity profile that is slightlylarger than the substantially rectangular module profile; a hostconnector electrically connected to the power supply, the at least oneinput connector, and the at least one output connector, the hostconnector located at the XY connector location at the back end of thecavity, the host connector being substantially correctly aligned withthe module connector only when the module is received in the cavity inthe correct orientation; and a projecting member located at anasymmetric XY location at the back end of the cavity for ensuring thatthe cavity only receives a module that is in the correct orientation andfor more finely aligning the host connector with the module connector,the projecting member extending into the cavity in parallel with aninsertion axis extending between the front opening and the back end ofthe cavity, the projecting member adapted for envelopment by a moduleaperture located at the asymmetric XY location on the back wall of themodule when the module is in the correct orientation where the hostconnector is substantially correctly aligned with the module connectorto permit the module to be fully received by the cavity and to permitthe module connector to engage the host connector, and for abutting theback wall of the module when the module is in the incorrect orientationto inhibit the module from being fully received by the cavity and toinhibit the module connector from engaging the host connector.

In a second aspect, the invention may be regarded as a host assembly forfully receiving an integrated computer module that is in a correctorientation and for only partially receiving a module that is in anincorrect orientation, the module having a front wall and back wallopposite the front wall, having a substantially rectangular module endperiphery defined by a floor wall, a ceiling wall opposite the floorwall, a first side wall, and a second side wall opposite the first sidewall, and having a module connector located at an XY connector locationon the back wall when the module is in a correct orientation, the modulecontaining a head disk assembly, random access memory, and a printedcircuit board assembly (PCBA) carrying a plurality of integratedcircuits that constitute substantially all of the integrated circuitsneeded to define a microprocessor-based computing subsystem, saiddocking bay comprising: a chassis including a power supply, at least oneinput connector port for attachment to an input device, and at least oneoutput connector for attachment to an output device; a cavity located inthe chassis and adapted for receiving and grossly aligning the module,the caving defined by a front opening, a back end opposite the frontopening, and a substantially rectangular cavity profile that is slightlylarger than the substantially rectangular module profile; a hostconnector electrically connected to the power supply, the at least oneinput connector, and the at least one output connector, the hostconnector located at the XY connector location at the back end of thecavity, the host connector being substantially correctly aligned withthe module connector only when the module is received in the cavity inthe correct orientation; and a projecting member located at anasymmetric XY location at the back end of the cavity for ensuring thatthe cavity only receives a module that is in the correct orientation andfor more finely aligning the host connector with the module connector,the projecting member extending into the cavity in parallel with aninsertion axis extending between the front opening and the back end ofthe cavity, the projecting member adapted for envelopment by a moduleaperture located at the asymmetric XY location on the back wall of themodule when the module is in the correct orientation where the hostconnector is substantially correctly aligned with the module connectorto permit the module to be fully received by the cavity and to permitthe module connector to engage the host connector, and for abutting theback wall of the module when the module is in the incorrect orientationto inhibit the module from being fully received by the cavity and toinhibit the module connector from engaging the host connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The just summarized invention may best be understood with reference tothe Figures of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated computer module that maybe used with a host assembly according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the integrated computer module of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the integrated computer module of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section view of FIG. 3 taken along section lines 4—4;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a host assembly that contains a CRTdisplay and is configured to appear like a conventional CRT monitor;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a host assembly configured toappear like a conventional tower chassis that may be connected to amonitor, a keyboard, and a mouse (not shown);

FIG. 7 is a generalized cutaway view of a docking bay according to thisinvention, suitable for use in a host assembly like those illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6 and configured to receive, electrically mate with, andretain an integrated computer module like the one shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A is a cutaway plan view of the integrated computer modulepartially inserted into a host assembly to illustrate engagement withthe projecting member.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an adapter PCB for transforming astandard 5¼″ peripheral bay of a conventional chassis into a docking bayaccording to this invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the adapter PCB of FIG. 8 and an associatedadapter sleeve that is externally sized for insertion into a standard5¼″ drive bay and is internally sized for receiving an integratedcomputer module like the one shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the adapter sleeve of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the adapter sleeve of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of a preferred bay configuration (shown here inconnection with an adapter sleeve) wherein the host connector isincorporated into the edge of a main host PCB;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A. The IntegratedComputer Module

FIG. 1 shows an integrated computer module (ICM) 100 that may be used ina host assembly having a docking bay according to this invention. From astructural point of view, the ICM 100 generally comprises a metalenclosure (not shown in FIG. 1, but see FIG. 2) that is aestheticallysurrounded by a case comprising, for example, a sleeve 180 and anassociated bezel or faceplate 181. The preferred faceplate 181 includescooling apertures 186 and a handle 182 for carrying the ICM 100 and forpushing or pulling the ICM 100 into or out of a docking bay (not shownin FIG. 1). The preferred sleeve 180 includes at least one key featuresuch as chamfered edge 189 that mates with a corresponding key featurein the docking bay. In the example shown, key feature 189 comprises achamfered edge along one comer of the substantially rectangularperiphery of the sleeve 180 which mates with a corresponding chamferedcorner 389 (shown in FIG. 5,6) of the docking bay. The sleeve 180 andfaceplate 181 are preferably injection molded components made of anysuitable material such as ABS, PVC, or engineered plastics.

The preferred ICM 100 of FIG. 1 also includes an aperture 184 in thefaceplate 181 for exposing an optional PCI Mezzanine (PCM) card 160 thatprovides additional functionality such as an ethernet port, a SCSI port,or other desired function. A blank PCM cover plate (not shown) may belocated in the aperture 184 in the absence of a PCM card 160.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the ICM 100 of FIG. 1, showing thepresently preferred construction in more detail. The ICM 100 is designedso that it can be assembled by hand or more efficiently, and more costeffectively assembled using automated assembly techniques. Inparticular, the components of the preferred ICM 100 are generallyassembled, from above, into an open-op case or “tub” 110. The preferredICM 100, in other words, is assembled in a successively stacked, layerby layer arrangement. The tub 110 and all of the components therein areultimately covered with a ceiling wall 119 and then, if appropriate forthe desired application, enclosed in the sleeve 180 and faceplate 181that form the outer case shown in FIG. 1. The preferred ceiling wall 119makes a snap-on connection to the tub 110 to speed assembly andeliminate the necessity for any threaded fasteners or the like.

The tub 110 has a floor wall 111, a front wall 112, a back wall 113opposite the front wall 112, a first side wall 114, and a second sidewall 115 opposite the first side wall. In order to define a space sizedfor receiving a disk drive 130, an intermediate wall 116 is alsoprovided between the first side wall 114 and the second sidewall 115.The tub 110 includes front and rear cooling apertures indicated at 107,109 in the front and back walls respectively for passage of cooling air.

The tub 110 is designed to minimize leakage of electromagneticinterference (EMI) in accordance with FCC requirements. Accordingly, thetub 110 and associated ceiling wall 119 are metallic and the coolingapertures 107, 109 are sized and configured to meet the desired EMIrequirements at the frequencies of interest.

The ICM's internal components generally include a shock mount system120, a disk drive 130 that is supported in the shock mount system 120and may have a controller PCBA 131 mounted on one side thereof, anintermediate plate 140, a main PCBA 150, and an optional PCM expansioncard 160 as mentioned above. Preferably, the main PCBA 150 includes amicroprocessor such as an Intel Pentium® (not shown) located beneath asuitable heat sink 153, first and second memory module connectors 156for holding memory modules 157 of a suitable type and desired capacity(e.g. Single Inline Memory Modules, or Dual Inline Memory Modules), anda module connector 154 for interfacing the overall ICM 100 to a hostassembly. Collectively, the components mounted on main PCBA 150 comprisesubstantially all the circuits needed for a computing subsystem. The ICM100 further includes a locking mechanism 190 that engages a projectingmember (discussed below) in the docking bay. The preferred lockingmechanism 190 mechanically snaps into a comer of the tub 110 between anupper slot 118 and a lower slot (not shown).

In a final assembly process, the tub 110 and its interior components areencased in the sleeve 180 and the associated faceplate 181. As thefaceplate 181 includes a handle 182 for carrying the entire ICM, it isimportant that the faceplate 181 have a secure, mechanical connection tothe tub 110. The presently preferred construction for such a positive,mechanical connection comprises two pairs of backwardly-extendingfingers 187 having inwardly extending detents (not shown), one pair oneach side of the faceplate 181, and two corresponding pairs of slots 117on the first and second side walls 114, 115 of the tub 110. As suggestedby FIG. 2, the faceplate 181 is initially pressed onto the tub 110 untilthe detents on its fingers 187 engage the slots 117. Next, the tub 110is inserted into the sleeve 180, the sleeve 180 thereby encasing the tub110 and the fingers 187 so that they cannot splay outward and disengagefrom the slots 117.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of a fully assembled ICM 100, the side thatinterfaces with a host assembly having a docking bay as describedfurther below. As shown, substantially all of the back wall 113 isexposed at a rear end of the sleeve 180 to provide access to the moduleconnector 154, the cooling apertures 109, and a module aperture 80.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred module aperture 80 inFIG. 3. In particular, FIG. 4 shows that the preferred module aperture80 has radius edges 81 having a depth “D” that is greater than a width“W” of an annular groove 282 contained in a projecting member 280. Wemake “D” greater than “W” to ensure that the module aperture 80 does notaccidentally hang up on the projecting member 280 as described morefully below in connection with the locking mechanism and the hostassembly. The preferred module aperture 80 is formed by stamping orpunching through the back wall 113.

Referring once more to FIG. 2, the preferred shock mount system 120comprises four comer pieces 126 and four buttons 146 that are eachformed from an elastomeric material, the preferred material beingSorbathane sold by Sorbathane, Inc. The corner pieces 126 each have abase and two intersecting, substantially perpendicular walls (notseparately numbered) extending upwardly from the base (not separatelynumbered). During assembly, the corner pieces 126 are simply locatedwith their bases on the floor wall 111 of the tub 110, and with theirupstanding walls in the comers defined by the front wall 112, the backwall 113, the first side wall 114, and the intermediate wall 116. Theupstanding walls of the corner pieces 126 are sized to provide a firmpress fit relationship when compressed between the disk drive 130 andthe surrounding walls 112, 113, 114, 116. The four buttons 146 areplaced in wells (not shown) formed in intermediate plate 140 to capturean opposite side of disk drive 130 as described further below.

The presently preferred shock mounting system 120 requires us to orientthe disk drive 130 with its controller board 131 facing upward, i.e. ina “board-up” orientation. The board-up orientation is preferred becauseit places the controller board 131 as close as possible to the main PCBA150, thereby allowing a short cable with minimal signal degradation. Theboard-up orientation is also preferred because the shock mounts 126 willnot block access to the connectors 139 that are on the controller board131. It is also desirable to mount the disk drive 130 board-up becausethe other side of the disk drive presents a clean, solid volume forcontact with the shock mount system 120.

The disk drive 130, therefore, is oriented board side up and thenpressed down onto and in between the four corner pieces 126. Next, theintermediate plate 140 is snapped into the tub 110, between the firstside wall 114 and the intermediate wall 116, to firmly hold the diskdrive 130 downward on the comer pieces 126. Note that the controllerboard 131 is recessed into the disk drive's aluminum casting 132,leaving a pair of elongated casting rails 133 extending up above theboard 131. The set of elastomeric buttons 146 are mounted onintermediate plate 140 to isolate intermediate plate 140 from rails 133,thereby enabling shock mount system 120 to mechanically couple diskdrive 130 to tub 110 via a shock-isolating, elastomeric interface.

The intermediate plate 140 also protects the disk drive's controllerboard 131 from electromagnetic interference (EMI) emanating from themain PCBA 150. The main PCBA 150 transmits significant amounts of RFenergy over a wide frequency spectrum because it has synchronouslyclocked components that operate at relatively high power levels (e.g.greater than 5 watts) and at a plurality of relatively high clockfrequencies (e.g., 66 MHz, 100 MHz, 500 MHz, and so on). The diskdrive's controller PCBA 131, on the other hand, contains circuitry thatoperates at relatively low millivolt levels that are associated withreading and writing data to and from the disk drive 130. Theintermediate plate 140, therefore, beneficially functions as an EMIshield in addition to securing the disk drive 130 in the tub 110. Thepreferred plate 140 is made of the same metallic material as theremainder of the tub 110 so that it represents an intermediate groundplane that tends to arrest conducted and radiated RF energy.

The main PCBA 150 is secured in the tub 110 above the intermediate plate140. In the presently preferred embodiment, the main PCBA 150 is securedwith two screws (not shown) passing downwardly through two apertures, acentral aperture 155 and a side aperture 159. The central screw mateswith a threaded aperture in the top of a standoff (not shown) that has athreaded fastener that extends from its bottom and is screwed into athreaded boss (not shown) in the center of the intermediate plate 140.The side screw mates with a threaded aperture in the top of a similarstandoff (also not shown) that screws into a threaded aperture locatedat one end of a shelf bracket (not shown) that is welded to the secondside wall 115 of the tub 110. The other end of the preferred shelfbracket has outwardly extending, vertically spaced fingers (not shown)that surround the top and bottom of the main PCBA 150 and thereby secureit at a third location. It is important, of course, to ground the mainPCBA 150. The preferred standoffs are conductive and make contact withcorresponding traces that surround the main PCBA's central and sideapertures to provide such grounding.

The main PCBA 150 may be divided into two upper portions and two lowerportions. The upper left half of the main PCBA 150 carries the CPU andits heat sink 153. The upper right half carries a standard pair of PCMconnectors 158 for interfacing the PCBA 150 with any PCM expansion card160 that may be present. The majority left portion of the lower side ofthe main PCBA 150 rests closely against the intermediate plate 140 viasupport tabs 142 located to either side thereof and via a conductivestandoff located near the plate's center (not shown). This portion ofthe PCBA's underside may carry some low-profile components, but it doesnot have any extending components due to its close proximity to theintermediate plate 140. The minority right portion of the main PCBA'sunderside, however, carries a pair of memory sockets 156 that support apair of memory modules 157 which extend downwardly therefrom next to thedisk drive 130, in-between the intermediate wall 116 and the second sidewall 115. An aperture (not shown) and associated cover plate 161 areprovided on the tub's floor wall 111 and aligned with the memory modules157 to provide access to the modules after the ICM 100 has beenassembled.

It is important to provide highly efficient cooling because of the highpower dissipation and component density in the relatively low volume ofthe ICM 100. Modern CPUs dissipate a great deal of heat. For example, anIntel Pentium III processor operating at 500 MHz with a 512K L2 cachedissipates about 28 watts. The safe dissipation of this much heatrequires a large, highly efficient heat sink 153, the preferred heatsink being fabricated from aluminum because aluminum offers a goodcompromise between heat dissipation and cost. The main PCBA 150 isdesigned so that the CPU and its relatively large heat sink 153 extendupwardly from a topside of the PCBA 150 into an “air tunnel” (notnumbered) located between the front and rear cooling apertures 107, 109in the front and back walls. The ICM's built-in fan 170 moves airthrough the air tunnel, over the fins of the heat sink 153, withvelocity of greater than 300 linear feet per minute (LFM). The fan 170is preferably located next to the front wall 112 of the tub 110, next tothe front cooling apertures 107, in order to save some space, but thefan 170 could be located on the opposite side of the tub 110 if desired.

B. The Host Assembly—Generally

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two host assemblies 200A, 200B. Both assembliescontain a power supply (not shown) for providing power to the hostassembly and to the ICM 100 inserted therein. The first preferred hostassembly 200A of FIG. 5 contains a CRT display and is configured toappear like a conventional CRT monitor 201A. The second preferred hostassembly 200B of FIG. 6 is configured to appear like a conventionalfull-height tower chassis 201B that has a conventional disk drive bay320 and may be connected to a display, a keyboard, and a mouse (notshown). Other configurations are possible. These two are merelyillustrative examples.

The preferred host assembly provides a docking bay that defines a cavityfor receiving an ICM 100. It is possible, however, to provide a dockingmodule (not shown) that releasably connects an ICM 100 to other deviceswithout providing a cavity 310 per se.

The FIG. 5 host assembly 200A uses a “built-in” docking bay 300 andassociated cavity 310 having keying feature 389 for mating with modulekeying feature 189. In operation, the user inserts the ICM 100 of FIG. 1into the cavity 310 until the ICM's module connector 154 (see FIG. 3)mates with a host connector 254 (shown in FIG. 7) at the rear of thecavity 310.

The FIG. 6 host assembly 200B, on the other hand, uses a “retrofit”docking bay adapter 400 that fits in a standard disk drive bay 320 anddefines a cavity 410 having a host connector (not shown) and the keyingfeature 389 for receiving an ICM 100. The cavity 410 in the retrofitadapter 400 also provides a host connector 254 (shown in FIG. 7) suchthat the user may insert the ICM 100 into the cavity 410.

C. The Host Assembly—Bay Details

FIG. 7 is a generalized cutaway view of a built-in docking bay 300 orretrofit adapter 400 according to this invention, the docking baysuitable for use in a host assembly 200A, 200B like those illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6 and configured to receive, electrically mate with, andretain an ICM 100 like the one shown in FIG. 1.

The docking bay has a cavity 310 defined by a continuous periphery,preferably rectangular, extending from a front opening (not separatelynumbered) to a back end 313 opposite the front opening. The cavity 310may be regarded as having an insertion axis (arrow) that isperpendicular to the periphery. Two items of interest are located at theback end 313 of the cavity 310: a host connector 254 for mating with themodule connector 154 and a projecting member 280 for providing a datasecurity function and an alignment function.

The host connector 254 is located a particular XY (horizontal andvertical coordinate reference) connector location at the back end 313 ofthe cavity 310 so that it mates with the ICM's module connector 154located at the same XY connector location when the ICM 100 is insertedinto the cavity 310. The host connector 254 may be centered on the backend 313 of the cavity, but the XY connector location is preferablyasymmetric so that, in the absence of a key feature 189, mating onlyoccurs if the ICM 100 is in the “correct” orientation.

The projecting member 280 extends into the cavity 310 in parallel withthe insertion axis so that it may be received in a correspondingaperture 80 in the rear wall 113 of the ICM 100. The projecting member280 may be located at an asymmetric XY location at the back end 313 ofthe cavity to prevent the user from fully inserting an unkeyed ICM 100into the cavity 310 in the wrong orientation. In either case, thepreferred projecting member 280 is located at the lower right corner ofthe cavity's back end 313 so that the ICM 100 may conveniently receiveit near the ICM's second side 115 (see FIG. 2). Other locations arepossible.

If the ICM 100 and docking bay 300, 400 are keyed, then the projectingmember 280 will always mate with the aperture 80 in the rear wall 113 ofthe ICM 100. In this preferred embodiment, the projecting member 280provides a guiding function and a locking function, but it does notimpact the ICM 100 because misalignment is not possible.

In the case of an un-keyed ICM 100, however, alignment is not assured.If the un-keyed ICM 100 is inserted in the correct orientation where theconnectors 154, 254 are aligned for mating, then the projecting member280 is simply received by the module aperture 80 in the rear wall 113 ofthe ICM's tub 110 (see FIG. 2). If the un-keyed ICM 100 is insertedupside down, however, then a solid portion of the rear wall 113 willcontact the projecting member 280 before the ICM's rear wall 113contacts and potentially damages the host connector 254 and before thecavity's rear end 313 contacts and potentially damages the moduleconnector 154.

FIG. 7A shows the ICM 100 partially inserted into the docking bay 300,400. Note that the projecting member 280 extends beyond position “A,”i.e beyond the farthest most point of the host connector 254. Thislength ensures that the projecting member 280 contacts the ICM's rearwall 113 before the host connector 254 contacts the rear wall 113 if theICM is inserted upside down.

The projecting member 280 also provides an alignment function that isbest understood with reference to FIGS. 7 and 7A. As shown, thepreferred projecting member 280 has an annular taper 284 at its tip thatslidably mates with the radius edge 81 of the module aperture 80. Theradius edge 81 essentially defines an annular beveled recess that guidesthe module aperture 80 onto the projecting member 280, and therebyfurther aligns the overall ICM 100 for mating the module connector 154to the host connector 254. The projecting member 280 must extend beyondposition “A,” however, if it also to provide such an alignment functionin cooperation with the module aperture 80. As shown, in fact, thepreferred projecting member 280 extends beyond reference position “A” toa farther reference position “B” to ensure that the module aperture 80envelopes the projecting member 280 before the module connector 154begins to mate with the host connector 254. A benefit of this additionallength is that ICM 100 contacts the projecting member 280 well beforethe position that the ICM 100 ordinarily sits when mounted in the bay.Accordingly, the user is given very obvious feedback, both tactile andvisual, that the ICM 100 is not corrected situated.

Suitably, the preferred connectors 154, 254 themselves include furthercomplementary alignment features to ensure that a truly “blind”insertion is possible. A wide variety of cooperating connector stylesmay be employed, including but not limited to, pin and socket types,card edge types, and spring contact types. Although not shown, theinventors contemplate an alternative embodiment of the ICM 100 that issecured to a host assembly in a semi-permanent arrangement. For costreasons, the semi-permanent embodiment would omit the sleeve 180 andassociated faceplate 181 and would replace the blind mating connector154 with a more cost effective PCBA edge connector having conductivefingers plated with minimal amounts of gold.

FIGS. 7 and 7A also show that the projecting member 280 provides a dataintegrity feature in connection with the locking mechanism 190 containedinside of the ICM 100. The projecting member 280, in particular,includes a retention notch 282 located on the side thereof. Thepreferred retention notch 282 is provided in the form of an annulargroove 282 that encircles the entire projecting member 280 and thepreferred locking mechanism 190 includes a moveable pawl 194 that locksthe ICM 100 into the docking bay 300, 400 by engaging the projectingmember's annular groove 292.

The preferred projecting member 280 is made of a conductive material andis grounded so that it may serve as a means for managing ESD. It isgenerally desirable to discharge static energy through a resistance toreduce the magnitude of an associated current spike. Accordingly, theprojecting member 280 itself may be comprised of a moderately conductivematerial such as carbon impregnated plastic or the projecting member 280may be made of a highly conductive material such as metal and connectedto ground through a discharge resistor as shown in FIG. 7A. In eithercase, the desired resistance is about 1-10 megohms. FIG. 7 also shows anelastic stop 288 located on the back end of the cavity for reducing ashock force when the cavity fully receives the module and when themodule connector engages the host connector.

FIG. 8-11 show a presently preferred construction for a “retrofit”docking bay adapter 400 as might be used in the standard drive bay 230in the host assembly 200B of FIG. 6. As shown, the retrofit adapter 400comprises an adapter sleeve 420 and an adapter PCB 430 that is mountedto a back end of the adapter sleeve. The adapter sleeve 420 includes asuitable means for mounting to a standard drive bay 320 such as, forexample, a plurality of threaded mounting holes 421 that are sized andspaced to interface with screws and corresponding through holes 321 (seeFIG. 6) in a standard 5¼″ drive bay 320. The preferred adapter sleeve420 is formed of injection molded plastic. It includes a number ofopenings 425, therefore, to reduce the required amount of plasticmaterial.

The adapter PCB 430, shown from the rear in FIG. 8 and from the side inFIG. 9, carries the host connector 254, the projecting member 280, andsuitable circuitry 434 for interfacing the adapter PCB 430 to othercomponents in the host adapter.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a preferred structure for supporting the hostconnector 254. Here, instead of being supported on a separate PCB 430 asin FIGS. 8 and 9, the host connector 254 is incorporated into the edgeof a main host PCB 250 in order to simply the construction and reducecosts. FIG. 12 shows such structure in connection with an adapter sleeve400, but is probably more applicable for use with a “custom” built-indocking bay 300 as used in a host assembly 200A like that shown in FIG.5, where more control can be exercised over the construction of the mainhost PCB 250 contained in the host assembly 200A.

We claim:
 1. A docking bay in a host assembly for receiving anintegrated computer module, the module having a front wall and a backwall opposite the front wall, and having a substantially rectangularmodule end periphery defined by a floor wall, a ceiling wall oppositethe floor wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall opposite thefirst side wall, and having a module connector located at an XYconnector location on the back wall thereof, the module containing adisk drive, random access memory, and a printed circuit board assembly(PCBA) carrying a plurality of integrated circuits that constitutesubstantially all of the integrated circuits needed to define amicroprocessor-based computing subsystem, the docking bay comprising: acavity adopted for receiving and grossly aligning the module, the cavitybeing defined by a front opening, a back end opposite the front opening,and a substantially rectangular cavity periphery that is slightly largerthan the substantially rectangular module end periphery; a hostconnector located at the XY connector location at the back end of thecavity, the host connector being substantially correctly aligned withthe module connector when the module is received in the cavity; and aprojecting member located at an XY member location at the back end ofthe cavity for more finely aligning the host connector with the moduleconnector, the projecting member extending into the cavity in parallelwith an insertion axis extending between the front opening and the backend of the cavity, the projecting member adapted for envelopment by amodule aperture aligned with the XY member location on the back wall ofthe module when the module is received in the cavity and the hostconnector is about to engage the module connector, the projecting memberfurther comprising a retention notch located behind a tip of theprojecting member on a side thereof, the retention notch being adaptedfor locking engagement with a latch mechanism located inside of themodule when the module aperture envelopes the projecting member; wherebythe module connector may be correctly aligned to engage the hostconnector.
 2. The docking bay of claim 1 wherein the cavity has a keyfeature incorporated into its substantially rectangular cavity profilethat ensures that the module is received in a correct orientation. 3.The docking bay of claim 1 wherein the cavity does not have a keyfeature and may receive a module that is in a correct orientation and inan incorrect orientation and wherein the XY member location isasymmetric to abut the back wall of the module when the module is in theincorrect orientation to inhibit the module from being fully received bythe cavity and to inhibit the module connector from engaging the hostconnector.
 4. The docking bay of claim 1 wherein the projecting memberis adapted to slidably mate with an annular beveled recess surroundingthe module aperture, the projecting member being circular in crosssection and having an annular bevel located at a tip thereof.
 5. Thedocking bay of claim 1 wherein the projecting member extending into thecavity is of a length sufficient to enter the module aperture before themodule connector engages the host connector.
 6. The docking bay of claim1 wherein the host connector is mounted at an outer boundary of aprinted circuit board assembly contained in the host assembly.
 7. Thedocking bay of claim 1 wherein the host connector comprises conductivefingers formed at an outer boundary of a printed circuit board assemblycontained in the host assembly.
 8. The docking bay of claim 3 whereinthe projecting member extending into the cavity is of a lengthsufficient to contact the back wall of the module when the module is inthe incorrect orientation before the front wall of the module is locatedflush with the front opening of the docking bay.
 9. The docking bay ofclaim 1 wherein the retention notch comprises an annular recess.
 10. Thedocking bay of claim 1 wherein the projecting member is conductive andconnected to ground via the host assembly for discharging electrostaticenergy contained in the module to ground.
 11. The docking bay of claim10 wherein the projecting member has a resistance of at least one megohmto control the rate of discharge.
 12. The docking bay of claim 1 furthercomprising means for retrofitting the cavity, the host connector, andthe projecting member into a standard peripheral bay.
 13. The dockingbay of claim 12 wherein the standard peripheral bay is designed toreceive a standard 5¼″ peripheral.
 14. The docking bay of claim 12wherein the retrofitting means comprises an adapter sleeve having afloor wall, a ceiling wall opposite the floor wall, a left side wall,and a right side wall opposite the left side wall, the adapter sleevehaving external dimensions that substantially conform to the internaldimensions of the standard peripheral bay; internal dimensions thatdefine the cavity suitable for receiving the integrated computer module;and means for securing the adapter sleeve inside of the standardperipheral bay.
 15. The docking bay of claim 14 further comprising aback wall that defines the back end of the cavity and supports the hostconnector at the back end of the cavity.
 16. The docking bay of claim 15wherein the back wall is a printed circuit board (PCB).
 17. The dockingbay of claim 14 wherein the adapter sleeve is formed from injectionmolded plastic.
 18. The docking bay of claim 1 further comprising anelastic stop located on the back end of the cavity for reducing a shockforce when the cavity fully receives the module and when the moduleconnector engages the host connector.
 19. A host assembly for receivingan integrated computer module, the module having a front wall and backwall opposite the front wall, having a substantially rectangular moduleend periphery defined by a floor wall, a ceiling wall opposite the floorwall, a first side wall, and a second side wall opposite the first sidewall, and having a module connector located at an XY connector locationon the back wall thereof, the module containing a disk drive, randomaccess memory, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) carrying aplurality of integrated circuits that constitute substantially all ofthe integrated circuits needed to define a microprocessor-basedcomputing subsystem, said host assembly comprising: a chassis includinga power supply, at least one input connector port for attachment to aninput device, and at least one output connector for attachment to anoutput device; a cavity adopted for receiving and grossly aligning themodule, the cavity being defined by a front opening, a back end oppositethe front opening, and a substantially rectangular cavity periphery thatis slightly larger than the substantially rectangular module endperiphery; a host connector located at the XY connector location at theback end of the cavity, the host connector being substantially correctlyaligned with the module connector when the module is received in thecavity; and a projecting member located at an XY member location at theback end of the cavity for more finely aligning the host connector withthe module connector, the projecting member extending into the cavity inparallel with an insertion axis extending between the front opening andthe back end of the cavity, the projecting member adapted forenvelopment by a module aperture aligned with the XY member location onthe back wall of the module when the module is received in the cavityand the host connector is about to engage the module connector, theprojecting member further comprising a retention notch located behind atip of the projecting member on a side thereof, the retention notchbeing adapted for locking engagement with a latch mechanism locatedinside of the module when the module aperture envelopes the projectingmember; whereby the module connector may be correctly aligned to engagethe host connector.
 20. The host assembly of claim 19 wherein thechassis contains a video monitor.
 21. The host assembly of claim 19wherein the cavity has a key feature incorporated into its substantiallyrectangular cavity profile that ensures that the module is received in acorrect orientation.
 22. The host assembly of claim 19 wherein thecavity does not have a key feature and may receive a module that is in acorrect orientation and in an incorrect orientation and wherein the XYmember location is asymmetric to abut the back wall of the module whenthe module is in the incorrect orientation to inhibit the module frombeing fully received by the cavity and to inhibit the module connectorfrom engaging the host connector.
 23. The host assembly of claim 19wherein the projecting member is adapted to slidably mate with anannular beveled recess surrounding the module aperture, the projectingmember being circular in cross section and having an annular bevellocated at a tip thereof.
 24. The host assembly of claim 19 wherein theprojecting member extending into the cavity is of a length sufficient toenter the module aperture before the module connector engages the hostconnector.
 25. The host assembly of claim 19 wherein the host connectoris mounted at an outer boundary of a printed circuit board assemblycontained in the host assembly.
 26. The host assembly of claim 19wherein the host connector comprises conductive fingers formed at anouter boundary of a printed circuit board assembly contained in the hostassembly.
 27. The host assembly of claim 22 wherein the projectingmember extending into the cavity is of a length sufficient to contactthe back wall of the module when the module is in the incorrectorientation before the front wall of the module is located flush withthe front opening of the docking bay.
 28. The docking bay of claim 19wherein the retention notch comprises an annular recess.
 29. The hostassembly of claim 19 wherein the projecting member is conductive andconnected to ground via the host assembly for discharging electrostaticenergy contained in the module to ground.
 30. The host assembly of claim29 wherein the projecting member has a resistance of at least one megohmto control the rate of discharge.
 31. The host assembly of claim 19further comprising means for retrofitting the cavity, the hostconnector, and the projecting member into a standard peripheral bay. 32.The host assembly of claim 31 wherein the standard peripheral bay isdesigned to receive a standard 5¼″ peripheral.
 33. The host assembly ofclaim 31 wherein the retrofitting means comprises an adapter sleevehaving a floor wall, a ceiling wall opposite the floor wall, a left sidewall, and a right side wall opposite the left side wall, the adaptersleeve having external dimensions that substantially conform to theinternal dimensions of the standard peripheral bay; internal dimensionsthat define the cavity suitable for receiving the integrated computermodule; and means for securing the adapter sleeve inside of the standardperipheral bay.
 34. The host assembly of claim 33 further comprising aback wall that defines the back end of the cavity and supports the hostconnector at the back end of the cavity.
 35. The host assembly of claim34 wherein the back wall is a printed circuit board (PCB).
 36. The hostassembly of claim 33 wherein the adapter sleeve is formed from injectionmolded plastic.
 37. The host assembly of claim 19 further comprising anelastic stop located on the back end of the cavity for reducing a shockforce when the cavity fully receives the module and when the moduleconnector engages the host connector.